MAGIC: AZ Challenge 2007 Response/Feedback Thread

[Tin Woodsman]

You've got the arguement summed up pretty well. My dream is a high speed double or a nice retro gondola.

Honestly, the high speed double would be the ideal way to go, but that's impactical unless you are the Crown family. Given the realities of Magic's budget, and the risks involved with an expensive HSQ, I'd go for a FG triple and run it as fast as state law will allow.

 

[BushMogulMaster]

Honestly, the high speed double would be the ideal way to go, but that's impactical unless you are the Crown family. Given the realities of Magic's budget, and the risks involved with an expensive HSQ, I'd go for a FG triple and run it as fast as state law will allow.

Vermont Tramway Safety Laws do not set a speed limit on fixed grip chairs. The only mention of speed in the provisions of the tramway law relate to detachable chairs [specifically, not to exceed 1200fpm after 12 day protocol (75% for 4 days, 90% for 8 days)].

I believe ANSI B-77 specifies an operating speed of no greater than 550fpm on a double, and 500fpm on a triple. I'd have to get the full text out to check, and I don't have it readily available at the moment. Regardless, ANSI B77 is merely a standard, and must be adopted by the Tramway board for it to become code. "2002 Vermont Passenger Tramway Rules & Addendum to ANSI B.77.1-1999" makes no mention of a limit on fixed grip carrier speed, so that may leave you with operating up to the design speed of the FG lift, typically not greater than 550fpm. However, you do have to consider safety and liability. It's very difficult to safely load skiers on a chair going 550fpm. Even the most experienced skiers would have trouble timing it right, and even experienced lifties would find it difficult to manage a chair going that fast.

500fpm is still tough, but definitely more realistic.

 

[kcyanks1]

HS Triples can be found in the US at Gore, Alta, Aspen and I think maybe one more place. At Aspen they apparently only use it as a double unless it's really crowded.

I thought Aspen had a high-speed double on Ruthie's?

 

[Tin Woodsman]

I thought Aspen had a high-speed double on Ruthie's?

That's the one the guy you quoted was referring to. Listed and mostly used as a double, but actually a slightly narrow triple.

 

[millerm277]

500fpm is still tough, but definitely more realistic.

I think Killington ran the Snowdon Quad at that for a while, it does help a lot, but it is fairly hard to load. (With an experienced lifty, it isn't too bad).

 

[BushMogulMaster]

I think Killington ran the Snowdon Quad at that for a while, it does help a lot, but it is fairly hard to load. (With an experienced lifty, it isn't too bad).

I know they used to. My dad was a lift manager at K in the early 90s, and that's about what they were running it at that point. He said they had lots of issues with inexperienced skiers trying to load on it. Devil's Fiddle quad used to fly as well.

One of the biggest problems is fatigue... it takes a lot of stamina and muscular endurance to load quads at 500fpm for any length of time.

Regardless, ANSI B77 now calls for FSQs to run no greater than 450fpm, so depending on Vermont's adoption (or lack thereof) of ANSI B77, they may not be allowed to anymore.

 

[MadPadraic]

You've got the arguement summed up pretty well. My dream is a high speed double or a nice retro gondola.

A retro gondola would be the best thing in the vt.

 

[kcyanks1]

That's the one the guy you quoted was referring to. Listed and mostly used as a double, but actually a slightly narrow triple.

I didn't realize it was really a triple. I thought that might be what he was referring to but wasn't sure. I remember it being installed and thought a big deal was made about how they were keeping the chair as a double.

 

[bobbutts]

impressed by the straight shooting.. no deal on Thu or Fri means I'm unlikely to visit much though.